Hi @normanchester,

I combined your discussion with an existing discussion of the same title:

"Diltiazem"
- https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/diltiazem/

This discussion was started by @mmicahk in the Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy support group but has many members with varying heart issues who have taken Dilitiazem. @boatsforlife, @susanml and @sharona09 all shared their ongoing experiences with Dilitiazem.

@normanchester, while we wait for other members to jump in, are you comfortable sharing what led to you being prescribed Dilitiazem?

@normanchester I was given Diltiazem immediately when I was first diagnosed with A-fib. I took 180 mg SR once a day in the beginning but when it didn't slow the pulse enough, I started taking 180 mg twice a day, once in the morning and once at night. This worked best for me but I didn't get a NSR until I was cardioverted about 6 weeks after my diagnosis--had to be on blood thinner for 4 weeks before they would do the procedure. I was in NSR after that for about 5 months, then had three breakthroughs in a month--short periods of less than 6 hours but still very annoying. I finally said I wanted to see an electrophysiologist after reading all the information online about A-fib's progression. The EP gave me a choice and I thought I would try the anti-arrhythmic since I had been symptom free for a couple of months, but then I had two more breakthroughs, always at inconvenient times so I went to "plan B" and scheduled an ablation. I am two weeks post procedure and I am taking a blood thinner but no b/p medication and my blood pressure has been fine. I am in NSR. I am more than thrilled. What I noticed is that I no longer have that awareness of my heart beating in my chest like I did before; this was especially notable at night. I personally wish that I had insisted on seeing an electrophysiologist after the very first breakthrough after cardioversion. Medication is not a cure and while an ablation isn't either, it is a lot more likely to contain the problem if it is done early before your heart gets scarring from the A-fib episodes and spreads. I am very hopeful that I have a good result; I am back to exercising in the gym and I feel very much more "normal" than I did before on the meds. I'm no kid; I am 79 years old and I didn't want to live on more and more meds. As my husband's cardiologist told him years ago, "all medicine is really poison, but you have to hope the benefits outweigh the side effects." As for side effects, you should know that everyone is different; one person tolerates something very well, others can't stand it. That was me and Flecainide; that was a no go for me! Too scary for me, too many black box warnings for my peace of mind. IMO if you have A-fib, go see an electrophysiologist as soon as possible. But that's just me.